Top 10 Favourite Breaking Bad Episodes (S1-4)

[falafel_musings]

You know that after DVD marathons I always do Top 10 episode posts? Well, my favourite episode celebration for Breaking Bad is a little late - or a little early seeing as I should really wait till the end of S5 - but here it is. I'm sure I'll end up posting a fresh list some time after the last eight airs next year.

But these are my most treasured

Comments

[frenchani]

I would probably pick the same episodes!

I think that I would put "4 Days Out higher" though.

[falafel_musings]

'4 Days Out' should be higher really. But Top Tenning this show was so hard. I can't believe I didn't fit 'Phoenix', 'End Times' and 'Bags in the River' in there somewhere.

[hanfastolfe]

That list? Probably about perfect.

I would definitely give honorable mentions to any episode containing Hector Salamanca, though, because the way he manages to express himself with that bell - sheer genius on the part of Gilligan et al :P

Especially his last visit to the DEA! XD ("S" DING! "U" DING! "C" DING! and you can already see where this is heading :P )

[falafel_musings]

I was rewatching Grilled recently. Hector is a truly original creepy captivating villain. The ding of that bell is so sinister. I'll miss him as much as Gus in S5 but their mutual death scene was a great explosive end for both characters.

It's impossible to do a perfect BB Top 10. You always have to leave amazing episodes out.

[elliotsmelliot]

Your lists are great trips down memory lane for me. They remind me how powerful one episode can be within a larger story. I have trouble singling out the episodes of shows with strong consistent narratives like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, or The Wire because the story all blurs together for me. I can distinguish seasons or moments, but usually not specific episodes unless they are more gimmicky (for lack of a better word - no disrespect meant) like Fly. Meanwhile for shows like Buffy or BSG or Lost, where the episodes feel more like distinct chapters and vary in genre/POV, I think in episodes.

Anyway, I should use your lists when I want to do a quick re-watch!

[falafel_musings]

It was definitely easier to do a Buffy Top 10. With the exception of the apocalyptic season finales, it was usually the 'gimmicky' standalone Buffy episodes that were the best ones. Breaking Bad is harder because each season is more and more like a visual novel (like The Wire). BB:S2 has the most memorable standalone episodes for me (the likes of Peekaboo and 4 Days Out). S4 is under-represented in my Top 10 mostly because it has an amazing full season narrative but not many episodes that have self-contained stories.

I think I'll want to do any all seasons BB rewatch sometime. Probably next summer before the final eight episodes.

[frelling_tralk]

Fantastic list! I'd have to agree with elliotsmelliot above though that I'd struggle with picking out my own favourites because so much of the show is a continuous narrative. The Fly and 4 Days Out have always stood out as favourites because of all the Walt/Jesse screentime making them easier to remember as stands-outs for me, but otherwise I'm not sure how I would rank the episodes tbqh. I can't disagree with any of your picks though! I've always had a soft spot for Peekaboo for being the first episode to really see Jesse as a person with a good heart, and it also does an excellent job of showing the consequences of meth with just how squalid those living conditions were

[falafel_musings]

As much as I love the other characters and story arcs, I think there's part of me that'd be happy for BB to be just Walt/Jesse having dialogue scenes constantly. I doubt they'll be time for another bottle episode before the end but it's still on my wish list.

Jesse really came into his own in Peekaboo. I love any story where Walt and Jesse have to face the consequences of what meth does to people, but I also love that Jesse (much more so than Walt) lets it all weigh on his soul.

[cylune9]

Just finished watching season 1... LOVE IT. I can't wait to read all your posts about it (and vid!) once I'm done. For once, I'll try to be spoiler free. I just ordered season 2, 3 and 4 on amazon. Boyfriend loves it too.

Oh, and I watched the two seasons of Games of Thrones recently. Kaja tells me you like Theon??? OMG, I thought I would be the only one. :) He's so fraked up.

[falafel_musings]

LUNE! So nice to hear from you. Sharing fandoms with you is always the greatest. I've missed it! I love that your loving Breaking Bad. It's the best show to marathon and if you loved S1 it only gets better (and crazier) from this point on. And yes, stay spoiler free if you can. I promise I'll keep my BB reaction posts behind LJ cuts. I can't wait to hear your reactions too! This show will seriously put you through the ringer. It's up there with BSG as the most satisfyingly traumatic show I've ever watched. I'm still practically shaking from last nights episode (that I've just caught up on this morning

[cylune9]

I already find BB amazing but I'm ecstatic to know it gets better! I think it has the potential to become one of my favorites along with BSG, Fringe and the x-files. I missed sharing fandoms with you too - you're insight is amazing. I'm always impressed by your analysis and your ability to make links between storylines and see the underlying themes. And we seem to enjoy the same characters which is quite eery.

As for GoT, I did some research and yes, it's been confirmed that Alfie is back for season 3 even though Theon is absent for the next two books (I'm currently reading book one and got a bit spoiled. sigh).

Not posting at GS much lately. Facebook is where I spend most of my time when I'm online. I've been marathon training a lot and I QUALIFIED TO RUN THE BOSTON MARATHON!!! So that how I've been spending my 'free' time lately. ;)

[falafel_musings]

You might know this already, but Vince Gilligan (BB's creator and show runner) is a former X-Files writer, so you're in good hands. BB is one of the most slick and flawless shows I've come across. The writing quality never dips. There have been no bad episodes or filler episodes to my mind so far. And the characters are great. For once I probably like the main characters (Walt, Skyler and Jesse) the most, but Jesse especially. I've said this a lot, but Jesse Pinkman for me is like a surrogate Charlie Pace with a much better written storyline.

What is Fringe like? I know a lot of posters on my flist watch it but I don't even know the premise. It's never aired in the UK as far as I know.

Yay! Glad to hear Theon's back. I think they changed his story somewhat but if that means we see more of that character I won't complain.

Can I friend you on Facebook? I'd love to be able to keep in touch. If that's okay I'll send you my link in a PM. Good luck with your marathon! I could do with something like that just to get myself fit.